Fire Department approved for $440,000 in equipment upgrades

April 25, 2012

by Alexandra Egorova

The Finance Committee of the Common Council approved the purchase of new equipment valued at $440,000 for the city Fire Department Wednesday evening. The department plans to buy a new communications terminal, a new emergency services vehicle for paramedics, and defibrillators.

The purchases are intended to improve the fire department’s current operations, Fire Chief Robert C. Forezzi, told the Finance, Taxation and Assessment Committee.

The estimated cost was $65,000 for the vehicle, $135,000 for communication terminals, and $240,000 for the defibrillators.

The new communication terminals will replace the aging technology in use now. The terminals are expected to improve communications process during a fire or accident, Forezzi said. For example, this equipment helps to track a fire, and provide necessary information about a situation, including an address, the type of fire, and even the height of a building. Automatic signals from the new equipment should improve efficiency and response time, he said.

“The Fire Department does not have any similar system right now. This is absolutely new technology of the 21st century that will improve the current job of the Fire department,” said Forezzi.

“Communication terminals are a management tool. The fire department will keep better track of the time responding,” said Common Council member James Sano, chair of the financial committee. “This new equipment will improve the communication between the Fire department and the Police. It is sounds like a good idea. This equipment can prove time of responding to the situation by the Fire department.”

The planned purchase of a new vehicle is intended to replace a 7-year-old vehicle now in service.

“This is the time to replace it. If we wait and keep repairing and repairing, we will spend more money in the future for repairing and on a purchase. The price for a new truck will increase. The best time to purchase a new van truck right now. We are going to buy a new one, ” said Forezzi.

“Obviously, this equipment is necessary for the Fire department. The new Rig will be safer for the fireman. It will be more portable,” said Sano.

In addition the Fire Department also proposed the purchase of new defibrillators. The equipment is used by the Department only for emergency medical situations. The current sixteen defibrillators are 15 to 20 years old, Forezzi said. By 2014, the city will invest in 10 new defibrillators, which is used in emergencies to restart a stopped heart.

“We are going to purchase 10 new defibrillators. This is a very expensive piece of equipment. However, it is going to be better equipment for saving people’s lives, ” said Forezzi.

“The current defibrillators are old technology of 15 years ago. How can they work effectively? This is a time to replace and update,” said Sano.

Forezzi said, “We are going to start to work on a purchase tomorrow. We are not going to wait,” said Forezzi. -30-